Uh, OK. I missed the part where this is serious business. Peterhansel sounds whiney.

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Yes, for insisting the race shouldn't be a circus, he sure sounds willing to throw some fuel on the fire.

Whenever I really want to hate the French I find out that Despres has a charity for kids in Senegal, or Etienne Lavigne brought a Red Bull to a despairing Toby. I don't "hate" Peterhansel, but it makes things a lot more fun to not just want Gordon to win, but to have someone I deeply want him to beat.

It's a bit surprising that someone like Sainz would jump on such a haphazardly prepared project like the Nasserbugly. I never even had the impression that he loved racing the Dakar that much.

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I kinda hear ya on him not being as pastionate about the Dakar as others....I was certainly surprised to see him team up with Nasser...wasnt too long ago they almost came to blows. Potential for some fun to watch team dynamics

It's a bit surprising that someone like Sainz would jump on such a haphazardly prepared project like the Nasserbugly. I never even had the impression that he loved racing the Dakar that much.

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Maybe he's finding some gratification in developing new, competitive vehicles like the VW WRC project.
He's probably finding it more difficult to keep up with young guns so this sort of low pressure environment is more adequate.

Uh, OK. I missed the part where this is serious business. Peterhansel sounds whiney.

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Here is my take on it, I think I may have posted it somewhere else. I grew up watching Peterhansel race enduros, supermotos and other motorcycle events. While being good on the bike, he was also well known for messing up other people's head ("intox"). Esquirol, Arcarons, etc. are a few names that comes to mind, by comments he was making in person or through the media, he was affecting their behavior.
I see nothing different here, playing on Robby's ego. Robby will want to be able to say "the famous K. M. A." and therefore pushing maybe more than what he should and make mistakes....
Hopefully not the case this year, but it seems like just about every Dakar, Robby had a a mishapp (rolled the VW the first year, overjumped a Dune the second year and smash the radiator, being pulled out of the ditch by the Lada, roll last year....) because he was probably pushing too much (something you rarely see Peterhansel do except when he clipped the tree the day before the final stage in Africa).
The first few stages are going to be really interesting to see where everybody is at level wise. Robby, Nasser and Carlos, the toyotas also, all the buggies even Vigouroux (last winner in Marocco beating the Minis...) and of course the Minis.

This wait is killing me, last year we would have already been in business ;-)

we run stuff that is a little newer...unfortunately as good as this car below is I don't think it would do so hot in the dakar:

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I've been told that we are the oldest car currently campaigned in Rally America. I know we were the oldest car on the Vintage Rally Championship website. The damn thing is 50 years old now. We're Historic compared to other Historic competitors.

have tossed the idea around of building a car for the Safari...not sure if that will happen though.

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oh yeah - back on topic
all the best for:
330 garland-suzuki
439 di lallo-riley
will also be keeping an eye on olholm
and the other toyotas.
and if it comes down to peterhansel v gordon
it'd be great to see a side by side race to the line like the nasser-carlos
with a little flick fill in to seal the deal.